ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19025, 27 May 1936, Page 5

ANTARCTIC EXPLORATION

RYMILL EXPEDITION \ GRAHAM LAND FLIGHTS LONDON, May 26. A Times world copyright message from the Rymill Antarctic expedition in Graham Land says that since the discovery of new land southwards, the expedition has made further discoveries northwards of the present base at Marguerite Bay on a flight over Laubeuf Fjord, which is a steep-walled cleft between two high mountain regions, so high on the east side that Messrs. Hampton and Stevenson could not see what was beyond Charcot Land.

It is believed the second strait will be named L’Allemand Fjord. It might extend between Mathe and Marguerite Bays, parallel with and eastward of Laubeuf Fjoi-d.

“Taking off from the. Argentine Islands in good conditions at 3 p.m. on March 51, Messrs. Hampton and Stevenson returned at sunset after a most satisfactory flight,” continues the report. “Laubeuf Fjord proved to be the only through channel between the bays. The whole region eastward is a mainland. “L’Allemand Fjord is only a bay lying south of Mathe Bay. The aeroplane flew the entire length of a wide low-lying snowfield valley, leading through the mountains to Marguerite Bay. We now know the trend of the major fjords, what part of the mountain groups form islands and what are the mainland promontories.

“We now possess a map indicating in some detail the West Graham Land coast from the old base to the newly discovered mountain as far as Alexander Island, a distance of about 400 miles. The north part of the coastline has been properly surveyed, but there remains the ground survey of the southern section. The main work of the coming season will be from Luitpold, Land south-westwards to Charcot Land.”

The expedition referred to in the cablegram is led by Mr. J. Rymill, South Australian explorer. The party settled (own in ideal winter quarters on the Argentine Islands in March, 1935. The base hut -was well situated for scientific work, being in the neighbourhood of a snow-covered hill where Mr. Stevenson, chief surveyor, erected a meteorological screen. A wireless station was also erected.

The Penola, the expedition’s ship was first anchored in Port Lockroy on January 21, 1935. There a seaplane was rigged up and the pilot searched for a suitable base. Mr. Rymill s original intention was to establish a base much further south, but this was impossible owing to the Penola’& engine-beds working loose, necessitating repairs. The seaplane was of the greatest Value in carrying out plans for the prospected route across the interior of Graham Land. Its flights resulted in the discovery of an island in Mathe Bay suitable for the advanced base from where sledge journeys were possible southwards across the sea of ice.

The expedition also found that the channel, which Sir Hubert Wilkins described as a strait extending across Graham Land, the existence of winch was since doubted, was either ait icecovered strait or was sufficiently low to permit of a sledge route across Graham Land. These discoveries gave hope for fulfilling the main object of the expedition.

The expedition, which left London in August, 1934, to explore 1000 miles of unknown coastline between Luitpold Land and Charcot Land is. considered the most important British enterprise in the Antarctic since the late Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ill-fated attempt to cross the continent 20 years ago. The British Government made a grant to Mr. Rynnll of £20,000 from the Research Development Fund of the Falkland Islands, and ordered the Discovery II to help in establishing the expedition’s base. The Royal Geographical Society put. its resources at the services of Hie expedition and contributed to its funds, as did also the City of London. Mr. Rymill and several of his companions have bad wide experience of Polar travel.